# 18 - Don't Like Nola News

Louisiana

This was not what I wanted to see on the news this morning.

Five weeks ago, Don and I spent a few days in Louisiana. A month is long enough that I'm not scared for ourselves. But I'm feeling sad and scared for every single person we saw on our trip.

We were there, the weekend before Fat Tuesday. Coronavirus was in the news, but it was all distant. Italy had just halted Carnival in Venice, but we were in New Orleans. There was no U.S. social distancing happening on February 22. 

Family

The news is now telling us that Mardi Gras played a huge part in spreading the virus. That's scary. But we had no clue at the time.

Don and I had a wonderful few days, staying with my brother and his wife. We walked to numerous parades from their home. This photo shows a fraction of the loot we caught from passing floats. We had such fun, in the family-friendly Garden District area, cheering and reaching, catching and chatting with others around us.

Now I look at this photo and cringe. Today we are told that the beads weren't that went flying from those festive floats.

We are fine, but I am so very worried for my brother and his wife, who live there. At least they're able to work from home. They're cautious and have the means to get help if needed. I worry for them, but I worry for all the people in Nola. The musicians, the artists, the restaurant workers and hotel employees. Such a special place, with history like no other U.S. city. This makes me so sad.